Packington Hall Estate - (NGS Open Day)

 

I'd noticed on Twitter (I refuse to call it X) that Packington Hall was open for the National Garden Scheme on Saturday 5th July and I have never seen the estate and gardens.  Packington Hall is located in the countryside between Birmingham and Coventry, near Meriden so it wasn't far to travel. The Packington estate also owns Marsh Lane Nature Reserve. Years ago I used to be a member and visited regularly as it was closer than Brandon Marsh and being behind padlocked gates I felt safe there on my own. But once B retired he wasn't keen on the reserve so as the membership was expensive I didn't renew it in 2020.

Packington Hall was originally built in 1693 and extended in the Palladian style in 1772 to a design by the architect Joseph Bonomi.  The hall is the seat of the Earls of Aylesford and is Grade II listed.

Herbaceous borders by the terrace. There were lots of bees and butterflies about. We saw Red Admiral, "Whites" and Gatekeepers. It was hard to get photos as it was so windy and the flowers were blowing about all over the place!

We then walked through the grounds and round the lake.  The Pleasure Grounds and landscaping around the house were designed by "Capability" Brown in 1751 and today include a Japanese bridge, lake,  rose and walled garden

Cedars of Lebanon

I think this gall on an oak tree is Biorhiza pallida

Sweet Chestnuts

We walked through a wildflower meadow.

More butterflies were seen including this Small Skipper

Red Soldier Beetles on Ragwort - I had to get D to hold the plant as it was still very windy and then I remembered after that Ragwort can be poisonous!

Has anyone any idea what tree these fruits belong to? I haven't a clue.

Common Blue Butterfly (new for year)

There was a super tree house with swings - the tree house was out of bounds but we did sit in the swing seats for a while.

There was a small pet cemetery with several gravestones.

We had by now returned to the house.  It was quite cool and windy but when the wind dropped it became very hot and humid.

Sea Holly was covered by bees again just like the plants at Stockton Bury Gardens. I have to get one of these plants certainly for the caravan as I think they survive dry periods quite well.

Time for tea and cake.  I sneaked a few crafty photos of the walls and ceiling in the room where they were serving refreshments. The rest of the hall wasn't open.

Timothy has announced that from now on he doesn't want his photo to be taken with Spotty Dog Man!

After cake we went in search of the rose and walled garden.  The former was in the process of being restored.

Walled Garden

A lovely water feature and very cooling as by now it was hot again.

It was a really lovely afternoon and I am glad we made the effort to go especially as I missed the open day at Maxstoke Castle recently.  I am trying to get out and walk as much as possible to try and keep cellulitis at bay. Although to be honest the very hot weather we have been having is not that conducive to walking!

Photos taken by me (and D at times) with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks)